Rutgers report shows rising AI use – and concerns – in New Jersey

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The basics:

• Rutgers researchers surveyed 5,000 US citizens, +1,700 New Jersey residents on AI use
• Most NJ adults use AI tools — especially younger and higher-educated users
• Strong concerns persist about AI in high-stakes decisions and job impacts
• Majority support strict regulation, transparency and labeling of AI content

A new Rutgers University-New Brunswick report examines the usage of AI here in the Garden State.

The report was co-authored by Katherine Ognyanova, an associate professor in the School of Communication and Information; Eunbin Ha, a Rutgers doctoral degree student; Vivek Singh, an associate professor of library and information science at Rutgers; and Ata Uslu, a computer scientist and doctoral researcher in network science at Northeastern University.

The researchers examined how residents throughout the state use AI – including at work and in school – as well as public attitudes toward oversight and comparing the New Jersey results with national averages.

A Rutgers-led effort to track public views on AI, the National AI Opinion Monitor conducted a survey between July 30 and Aug. 18. It collected responses from 5,139 adults in the United States and 1,728 New Jersey residents ages 18 and older.

Researchers reported that most residents are using AI tools in various parts of life. However, the study found that respondents do have concerns about the technology’s broader societal impact, particularly on employment and high-stakes decision-making by law enforcement, hospitals, financial institutions and universities.

“We are witnessing a shift in workplace expectations, especially in higher-skilled fields,” said Ognyanova. “More than a quarter of employed New Jersey adults say their jobs now require the use of AI tools. That trend is even more pronounced among graduate-degree holders, where 44% report that AI use is required in their work.”

Key findings in the report include:

• Usage in New Jersey
  • 74% of New Jersey residents have used at least one AI tool versus 68% nationally
  • 81% have heard of ChatGPT versus 75% nationally
  • 57% have used it at least once versus 49% nationally
  • Younger, more educated and higher-income residents are more likely to use AI
• Age
  • 92% of adults ages 18 to 24 have used at least one AI tool
  • 54% of those 65 and older have used at least one AI tool
• Gender
  • 82% of men use AI
  • 67% of women use AI
• AI at work
  • 57% of New Jerseyans say AI will eliminate more jobs than it creates – but that it is common practice for them to use AI at work
  • 41% of employed New Jersey adults said they use AI tools for work at least weekly; 28% said that AI use is required in their jobs
• AI in school
  • University students in New Jersey use AI at rates that are similar to other students nationwide – with 45% reporting frequent use for schoolwork
  • 34% of New Jersey instructors are more likely to discourage AI use versus 24% nationally
  • 65% admit to having used AI to cheat at school

‘Mismatch’ in the classroom

“AI has become a routine part of schoolwork for many students in New Jersey, with almost half reporting frequent use,” said Ognyanova. “Yet instructors in the state are more likely to discourage AI use compared to educators nationally. There is clearly a mismatch between classroom guidelines and student behavior.

“Perhaps as a result, nearly two-thirds of students admit to using AI in ways that could be considered cheating.”

New Jerseyans also expressed strong concerns about the technology. Opposition to AI tools making high-stakes decisions was notable, with just between 7%-9% believing AI should make final decisions about who gets loans, released on parole, receives medical priority, is admitted into college or hired. Additionally:

• 59% favor strict regulation because of potential risks
• 51% believe both federal and state governments should be involved in regulating AI
• 85% say companies should disclose whether users are interacting with AI or a human
• 79% believe creating AI-generated images of real people without permission should be illegal

Ognyanova stressed that while New Jerseyans are embracing AI tools at high rates – there is strong support for AI regulation and guardrails.

“Transparency is particularly important: over four in five respondents support labeling AI-generated content and believe companies should disclose when users are interacting with an AI system rather than a human,” said Ognyanova.

The full report can be found here.